Samsung NX 1 Media Launch (Kuala Lumpur)

I was invited with a writer to the media launch of the Samsung NX 1 at Nexus, Bangsar South earlier today. I arrived around 1045, the event started around 1140am. As usual, all the photos here are from the 5DIII.

How to do a camera launch:

First , ask one of your managers to welcome the press, and introduce the camera.

Then you launch the camera.

Then the product manager introduces the great features about the camera, without going into too much detail or else it will take forever.

You fly in your 'mascot' National Geographic photographer from halfway around the world to give a short presentation on the camera.

 Members of the team from Samsung.

 Group photo with the Samsung management and mascot photographers.

 Press conference in session.

 The camera in the flesh.

Always make sure that there are some pretty girls to pose with the camera.

These are my personal observations about the event / camera with just half an hour of trying it out.

• Talking about branding, the official photographers / videographers at the event were using CANON. If Samsung is so proud about the capabilities of the NX1, why not use your flagship camera to cover the event instead? (I do admit that it might slow down the workflow quite abit for the event photographers /videographers) but imagine the event photographer at a NIKON camera launch using a CANON camera.. It does turn some heads (for the wrong reasons).
• I'm not used to the user interface (UI) of the camera, so I feel its not as user friendly as CANIKON (though to be fair, the CANIKON UI isn't that great either).
• The NX1 is blazing fast when you're shooting high speed burst mode at 15FPS. But the small red light behind will blink for a few seconds as the camera transfers the large 28MP files to the memory card. I'm not sure if you have to wait for the buffer to clear before you can start shooting burst mode again but I'm sure the camera will lock down if you take a whole series of large files at one go.
• Because Samsung crammed in 28MP into an APS-C sized sensor, I'm not convinced about the low light performance of this camera despite Samsung's claims of a superior camera sensor. ISO1600 looked a tad grainy to me when I previewed the photo on the LCD.
• Autofocus can be a bit fidgety, especially in low light. I was using the 50-150mm/2.8 and it does struggle to focus a bit. Of course, don't expect this baby to supercede your 1DX or D4s anytime soon yeah.
• This camera is substantially built; it isn't light and small. It's a mirrorless camera trying to be an SLR
• This baby ain't cheap. Promo price starts from RM4699 body only. The 'pro' kit is RM8699 and it includes a grip, the 16-50/2-2.8 and a flash. By comparison if you add RM1k, you can get Nikon's smallest full frame DSLR - the Nikon D750 which is just a little larger than the NX1.
• The camera syncs well with Samsung products - you can directly bluetooth or wifi your photos from the camera to your Samsung phone with ease.

If you're a professional / semi professional photographer with some cash to burn or if you desire a lighter camera, this might be the camera for you. But to 'cari makan', perhaps the big two brands are easier to justify lah.

Over and out.

Signature By The Hill @ The Roof

A writer and I were invited for a food review @ Signature By The Hill @ The Roof a few days ago. I unashamedly admit that I have never stepped foot into this place although I have been a KL resident for 5 years.

It's quite a nice place to dine, and it boasts nice panoramic views of Petaling Jaya with its expansive glass windows.

On a clear day, you should be able to see KLCC and KL tower without any haze.

 This watermelon cocktail is generously portioned and meant to be drank by 2 people.

This is the first time I'm trying escargots in Malaysia.

 Soft shelled crab with salad

 Barramundi with various condiments and vermicelli

 Squid ink spaghetti

  Spaghetti with king prawns.

 Absolutely sinful dessert - tonnes of ice cream with chocolate and hazelnut topping and caramel.

Night view of PJ @ ISO 4000

I would definitely return in the future, if I have some cash to spare~

Launch of 5 door MINI

My colleague and I were invited to the launch of the new Mini Cooper S 5-door yesterday at the KLCC multi-level car park on Jalan Binjai. To save time from the traffic on Jalan Tun Razak, I took the LRT to Ampang Park.

The signage leading to the MINI launch wasn't so apparent so I had to ask the parking attendant for directions. But lo and behold, what was waiting for me behind the lift lobby - 3 brand new 5-door MINIs.

 Eleven exterior paint shades will be available. The three colour schemes shown here are - chilli red, moonwalk grey and electric blue.

The KLCC towers provide a fantastic background to showcase the cars against a beautiful blue morning sky.

 This model is supplied with run-flat tyres with 17" Rouolette Spoke two-tone rims.

 The vehicle is fitted with LED daytime driving lights as well as LED headlights and fog lamps.

A MINI is easily recognizable by its radiator grille with a honeycomb pattern and classic elliptical headlamps.

According to BMW Group Malaysia Managing Director Allan Harris, "The new MINI 5-Door is the perfect car for the small, urban, modern Malaysian family for everyday use. Be it as a daily commute to work after dropping the kids off at school, or the weekend out with family and friends. The only difference now is that you would be driving and travelling in style."

Colored smoke fills the air at the end of the launch (photo from PR agency).

The MINI visual boost LCD display with 5-key controller offers convenient access to driver assistance, infotainment, and comfort systems.

 JCW multifunction leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, rain sensor and automatic lights control.

At the heart of this baby is a 2.0 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology petrol engine, delivering a maximum output of 192hp and 280Nm of torque. Coupled with a six speed automatic gearbox, the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 230km/h. Average fuel consumption is 5.5 litres per 100km.

Representing BMW Group Malaysia are from right to left - Head of Corporate Communications Sashi Ambi, Managing Director Alan Harris and Product and Pricing Planning Specialist Chia Pin Ling.

The MINI Cooper S 5-door will retail for RM238,888. It will be bundled with a 3 year or 50,000km after-sales care package.